Karen Davis  

Rhyolite Ghost Casino by Karen Davis

March 2025 - Rhyolite Ghost Casino

About the Image(s)

Camera: Canon EOS6D
Lens: EF24-105mm
ISO = 100
Exposure = 1/125 @ f/14

It was a beautiful, cloudless day in October, 2022 when several volleyball friends and I visited Rhyolite, the renowned ghost town near Las Vegas, Nevada. It was quite an experience to see the ruins of several buildings that cropped up as a result of the 1904 gold rush to this desert area.

These are the beautiful ruins of the Ghost Casino located in Rhyolite, Nevada. The building began as a Train Depot, when the railroad finally made its way to Rhyolite in 1906. The depot saw both passenger and freight traffic and was likely the busiest spot in town (apart from, perhaps, the bars). The Train Depot may have been constructed in a hurry, like the other buildings in Rhyolite, but it was also an architectural marvel for its time.

Background information from: A Desert Oasis: This Is The Forgotten Story Of Rhyolite's Bank & Casino

I hope you enjoy this glimpse into some southwest architecture from the 1900s.

This round’s discussion is now closed!
11 comments posted

Gregory Waldron   Gregory Waldron
Hi Karen,
A nicely composed image. Thanks for sharing the history of this ghost town.
Best regards,
Greg   Posted: 03/11/2025 12:24:07
Karen Davis   Karen Davis
Thanks, Greg!   Posted: 03/21/2025 14:30:13
Tom Brassil   Tom Brassil
Hi Karen,

Lovely image and as with Greg thanks for sharing history of this location. To me the point of view works well, and while the image is good as it stands the only thing I might do is perhaps darken in the lower section just marginally to see if that draws the viewer more to the building itself   Posted: 03/11/2025 20:31:30
Karen Davis   Karen Davis
Good idea. I didn't think about that until you suggested it - that might help.
Thanks for the tip!   Posted: 03/21/2025 14:31:26
Darcy Johnson   Darcy Johnson
Hi Karen - The Ghost Casino in Rhyolite must have been something to see in the early 1900s! The image ticks off all the boxes for a lovely landscape. If it were mine, I would keep the 16:9 aspect ratio but perhaps bring it in from the left and up from the bottom. Cutting out the rock barrier and the parking lot may be helpful as the rock outline is a bit of a barrier to get to the main subject. As many times as I've been to the Las Vegas area, this is one place I haven't run across. Thanks for sharing !   Posted: 03/15/2025 22:56:08
Karen Davis   Karen Davis
I definitely could lose some of that tree to the left. It created a nice frame for the building - and it was very interesting, but the image certainly doesn't need THAT much tree! I'll have to think about those rocks. I'm a "Rock Hugger" (as well as a "Tree Hugger"!), so I kinda liked them there as a bit of a "frame", but I could see them being interpreted as a "barrier."

You should check out Rhyolite before the desert totally reclaims it! Thanks so much for the suggestions.   Posted: 03/21/2025 14:35:35
Ingrid Lockhart   Ingrid Lockhart
Hi Karen. I enjoyed your description and history information. I love photographing abandoned buildings and I like the point of view you chose, creating a nice diagonal composition. I actually like the rock border at the bottom which I think frames the building and mirrors the roof. However, I think darkening the gravel at the bottom, as suggested by Tom, would be a good edit to try. Thanks for this glimpse into the past.   Posted: 03/16/2025 14:03:07
Karen Davis   Karen Davis
Too funny - I found another "Rock Hugger!" I think you and Tom are both right about darkening the bottom.
Thanks for the feedback and suggestions.   Posted: 03/21/2025 14:37:14
Erin Browne   Erin Browne
Hi Karen,

I like the diagonal composition of the building. I wonder if cropping in a little more from the left cropping out the first tree would also draw more attention into the building. I love the sharpness and the contrast with the (very cloudless!) sky   Posted: 03/18/2025 16:35:00
Karen Davis   Karen Davis
I know - that sky was amazing! I actually thought of taking down the Vibrance & Saturation a bit since folks would think I pushed it too far. It really was THAT blue and made a nice contrast against the browns and greens. Thanks for reinforcing the comment about losing some of that tree. Great suggestions!   Posted: 03/21/2025 14:40:00
Syed Shakhawat Kamal   Syed Shakhawat Kamal
Hi Karen,
Greetings my friend.
A lovely image of a mysterious subject. Are there really any ghost in the "Rhyolite Ghost Casino"? Why is that called a ghost casino? Are these for the ghosts, or is it ghosted? Just kidding my friend. A lovely frame with the light and colors. I guess little less of trees on the left could do.
My two cents.
Kindest regards.
Kamal.   Posted: 03/23/2025 08:20:40